Does Pattern competition cost too much?

[David Lockhart]

...from a renegade that flew a 4 servo plane with fixed gear and an exposed
side exhaust engine through the 1st two classes of pattern..........

I think the WOW factor is evident enough.

I also think there is a WOW factor for pattern - but only to the very small
group that watches long enough to see minute differences in
pilots/planes/manuevers/flights/etc, AND is then appreciative of the
differences.  Several years ago, a very talented sport pilot new to the
hobby (2 years of flying) saw me fly pattern when I visited his field - he
was impressed with the 2 flights he saw.  One month later, he saw me at a
different field and after the 1st flight he concluded pattern was extremely
boring as I did the EXACT same thing as before.  Then the wind picked up and
I was the only guy flying, and I did the EXACT same thing again - for him,
the lightbulb went off and he realized (and appreciated) just how difficult
it was to do the exact same thing.  He was (and is) a very small minority -
the minority that appreciates something like a well executed rolling circle
at a constant 100' altitude.  The majority is far more interested in the
chaotice inverted pass that briefly dips below 5' feet.

Dave

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Richards" <bob at toprudder.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: Does Pattern competition cost too much?


> I don't think pattern costs too much. It is as
> inexpensive now as it has ever been, IMHO.
>
> One thing about IMAC vs pattern that has not been
> mentioned is the WOW factor. Big planes, big engines,
> etc. are much more impressive. Some people buy the big
> planes for the WOW factor. And, the WOW factor occurs
> before they even takeoff. In pattern, it does not
> happen until they fly. Oh, well, except for the fancy
> paint schemes (which you will never see on any of MY
> planes!). :-)
>
> I guess what I am trying to say is that you can buy
> WOW factor in IMAC with enough $$$. In pattern, you
> buy WOW factor with fuel. Some people have more money
> than time. I don't mean anything negative by that, it
> is just a fact of today's world placing more demands
> on our time.
>
> This is just my opinion. I am not taking shots at any
> group. I am very much interested in both pattern and
> IMAC (some may remember me as a renegade flying a
> Cap21 in pattern years ago).
>
> Bob R.
>
>
> --- "J.Oddino" <joddino at socal.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > From time to time I hear folks suggesting the reason
> > the number of contestants is down is due to the high
> > cost of pattern planes and support equipment.  Well
> > I don't believe that is the reason.  This weekend I
> > went to a relatively local IMAC contest in Camarillo
> > California and there were somthing like 61
> > preregistered and 56 actually flying.  I'd guess 80%
> > of the planes were 40% scale, meaning they had $1500
> > engines and $3000 airframes and $1500 worth of
> > servos.  Then you've got the motor homes and trucks
> > and trailers to transport them.  I still say the
> > highest cost of flying is the driving to and from
> > the field and that is probably why the park flyers
> > are so popular.
> > So what is the reason for the drop in attendance and
> > the drop in the number of pattern contests?  Or is
> > that only in Southern California?
> >
> > Jim O
>
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